Nostalgia TV Makes a Comeback

Graziadio Faculty Member, Melva Benoit, Quoted in L.A. Times

August 25, 2017 | 1 min read

Melva Benoit, a digital media professor at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and former network executive, is quoted by writers Meg James and Yvonne Villarreal in the Los Angeles Times. James' and Villarreal's article focuses on nostalgia TV. By breathing new life into old classics, digital platforms like Hulu and Netflix are competing with hits like "Games of Thrones" on HBO and "This Is Us" on NBC, both of which are successful in an era that challenges traditional, network-driven storytelling.

In offering binge-friendly classics, digital platforms avoid production and development costs while offering viewers something attractive and time-tested. Those familiar with shows like "Friends," "The Golden Girls," and "The West Wing" enjoy a sense of nostalgia, while new viewers enjoy these shows with fresh perspective. Benoit notes that newer shows are sometimes too edgey and that these older shows can be safer for families to watch together.